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Usher in the new decade with a bang and throw a New Year's Eve soiree. Whether it's for a few close friends or the entire extended family, it'll put a stop to the worrying where they'll be at the stroke of midnight. They'll be at your bash, partying like it's 2010!

Here are some tips for a successful shindig.

Be fashionably late

Since the party is going to reach its crescendo at midnight, don't ask guests to start dropping in earlier than 9 or 10 p.m. You don't want their festive spirits drooping just before the countdown begins.

Pass out the party hats

It's not a New Year's Eve party until you make some noise. Party hats, tiaras, horns, noisemakers or Mardi Gras beads might seem corny, especially if it's an all-adult party, but your guests will appreciate the festivities. Just because the party's cozy doesn't mean it has to be sleepy.

For décor, think tinsel, glitter, and sparkle. Put away the red and green (that's so last year) and stick to silver, golds, blacks and whites.

Food

Consider taking the easy route with the menu. After over-indulgence during Christmas, your guests wouldn't mind skipping the three-course dinner. The simplest way is to offer several hors d'oeuvres, which you can make on your own or assemble with store-bought finger foods. Scatter them around to encourage mingling.

Some dish ideas include: cheese board with crackers, chocolate fondue, devilled eggs, chicken skewers, fruit tarts. Dial up the swank factor with caviar, served on toast points or blini with all the traditional accompaniments.

For an unexpected touch, why not serve a midnight brunch? Small servings of food that welcome a fresh new day, such as French toast, waffles with chocolate dipping sauce, fruit parfaits or granola.

Uncork the bubbly

Break out the champagne flutes. A New Year's Eve party isn't complete without champagne, so be prepared to splurge on this. At minimum, make sure to have enough champagne on hand for the midnight toast to celebrate the dawning of the year.

For teetotallers, fill up their glasses with non-alcoholic cider, sparkling fruit juice, or other fizzy drinks.

Countdown

Don't have a clock with a second hand? Fret not. Go to online countdown site www.timeanddate.com and project the numbers onto a blank white wall so everybody can get on in the fun. Or, tune in to the TV for national celebrations.

With a few minutes to go (depending on how many guests you have) start refilling people's glasses. At a minute to, tap a glass and call everyone's attention.

Send out real invitations

Everyone likes getting mail. Real mail, not the electronic stuff. So if you can handle the guilt that goes along with sacrificing part of a tree in order to let your friends know you're having a party, skip the "e-vite" and send out actual invitations to your party.

Real invites are also much tougher for people to decline, which gives you a leg up should you have to compete with another party. After all, you took the time and spent a few bucks to invite your friends. The other party just typed up an e-mail, added a bunch of emoticons and hit send. You're the clear winner there.

Play a game

Combine nostalgia and competition by compiling a list of historical events and quizzing your guests on when they happened. For example, what year did The Beatles perform their only concert in Vancouver? (Answer: 1964) What year did the B.C. Lions win their first Grey Cup? (Answer: 1964) What year did the first Ford Mustang roll off the assembly line? (Answer: 1964) Feel free to include other years as well!

If you or your kids have a videogame system, you can work this in as well. From Buzz for PS3 or any of the Rock Band/Guitar Hero games, people will be fighting over the microphone for a memorable karaoke evening. Beatles Rock Band is an especially popular choice.

chchan@theprovince.com

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